The beast lowered its stance.
Kael raised his sword.
They rushed toward each other again, Kael meeting the first claw with his blade before shifting his weight and cutting toward the beast's shoulder, forcing it to twist away as its other hand came across his chest; Kael leaned back, the claws passing close to his body, then stepped forward and drove his sword toward the beast's ribs.
The beast blocked.
CLANG!
Kael pushed against the claw, but the beast suddenly turned its wrist and knocked the sword away before stepping in with a heavy strike.
Kael used Mirage Step.
His body shifted sharply to the side.
The fist passed through where he had been.
The beast turned immediately.
Kael was already moving around its flank.
He swung.
The beast ducked.
Kael's blade passed over its head.
The beast spun with the movement and brought its claw across.
Kael blocked.
CLANG!
The force pushed him backward.
He recovered and stepped forward again.
The beast met him.
Their weapons collided repeatedly as they moved across the clearing, Kael changing angles and using Mirage Step whenever the beast tried to trap him, while the beast kept turning with him and refusing to let him settle into a rhythm.
Kael suddenly shifted again.
Mirage Step.
His body blurred toward the beast's left.
The beast followed the movement.
Kael cut back toward the opposite side.
The beast twisted away.
Kael's grip tightened.
"Ripple Slash!"
His sword came across.
The beast's claws rose.
"Crescent Claw."
Silver aura formed along its claws.
CLANG!
The first strike of Ripple Slash crashed against the curved silver blade.
The beast's claws held.
Kael immediately brought the sword around for the second strike.
The beast rotated its body and swept its other claw across.
The second strike met the second crescent.
CLANG!
Silver aura scattered through the air.
Kael was forced backward.
The beast stepped forward.
Kael steadied himself and attacked again.
The beast answered immediately.
A claw came across.
Kael blocked.
CLANG!
Another came from the opposite side.
Kael twisted away.
The silver edge curved toward him.
He stepped inside its path and brought his sword toward the beast's arm.
The beast pulled back.
Kael followed.
Their weapons collided again.
CLANG!
Neither gave ground.
Kael changed his angle.
The beast adjusted.
Kael stepped left.
The beast cut him off.
Kael stepped right.
The beast followed.
Their blades and claws continued crashing together as the distance between them disappeared, until Kael suddenly drove forward with his shoulder and forced the beast back.
The beast stumbled.
Kael swung toward its ribs.
The beast twisted away.
Kael immediately brought the sword back.
The beast stepped inside his range.
Its fist drove toward Kael's side.
Kael saw it.
He turned his body.
The fist still caught him.
THUD!
Kael's body shifted from the impact.
He immediately brought his sword down toward the beast's arm.
The beast didn't move.
Its fist remained pressed against Kael's side.
Its eyes narrowed.
"Double Impact."
Kael's expression changed.
The beast's muscles contracted.
A second burst of force exploded through the same point.
BOOM!
Kael was thrown sideways.
Pain tore through his ribs.
He hit the ground hard and rolled before catching himself with one hand.
For a moment, he couldn't breathe.
Kael gritted his teeth and pushed himself up.
His hand went to his side.
Blood was already spreading beneath his clothes.
The Mark on his palm pulsed.
Kael waited.
The familiar warmth began to spread through his body.
Then stopped.
His eyes narrowed.
The wound remained open.
Across the clearing, the beast slowly lowered its fist.
Kael stared at it.
His breathing was heavier now.
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